Rack bracket structure

ABSTRACT

A rack bracket structure is applied to fix at least one electronic device onto a rack housing. The rack bracket structure includes a first bracket member, a second bracket member, a limiting member, a plurality of first locking members and a plurality of second locking members. The first bracket member has at least one first hole and a plurality of second holes. The second bracket member has at least one third hole. The first and the second bracket members are pivoted on the limiting member. The first locking members pass through the second holes respectively and fix the first bracket member on the electronic device. The second locking members pass through the first and the third holes respectively and fix the first and the second bracket members on the rack housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a bracket structure, and more particularly to a rack bracket structure.

2. Related Art

Due to rapid development of business environment, information market trends to an innovative variation. Information technologies (IT) are developed to a simplified design for facilitating enterprises to construct their own information frame structure and achieve the best effects in the shortest time.

More and more enterprises and organizations share resources by local area network (LAN). In local area network, a switcher plays the role of switching path for packets during resources sharing. Connecting network equipments by switchers will be more effective and convenient than by serial connection between these network equipments.

When enterprises apply advanced and expensive switcher or rack-mountable unit, a plurality of brackets are applied to fix electronic devices onto a rack housing in order to achieve effective heat dissipation, prolong lifetime and be operated easily. The switchers mounted on the rack housing in stacked arrangement may save storage space and decrease power consumption.

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional rack bracket structure 10 includes a rack housing 11, a plurality of bracket members 12, a plurality of first screws 13 and a plurality of second screws 14. The rack bracket structure 10 is applied to fix a plurality of electronic devices E onto the rack housing 11. The first screws 13 pass through the bracket members 12 respectively and fix the bracket members 12 on the electronic devices E. Then, the second screws 14 pass through the bracket members 12 respectively and fix the bracket members 12 on the rack housing 11.

The bracket members 12 of the rack bracket structure 10 should be fitted for the electronic devices E. In order to fix the electronic devices E onto the rack housing 11, the bracket members 12 should have different scales respectively corresponding to the electronic devices E. When the electronic devices E are smaller in scale, even three bracket members 12 are applied to fix two electronic devices E onto the rack housing 11 at the same time.

Because the bracket members 12 are components separated from the electronic devices E, the storage and assembly of components are inconvenient to user. Any loss of the bracket members 12 will cause the electronic devices E could not be mounted onto the rack housing 11.

It is therefore an important subject of the present invention to provide a rack bracket structure to solve the problems regarding to storage and assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, the present invention provides a rack bracket structure, in which the bracket members are assembled as a whole for facilitating storage and assembly.

To achieve the above, a rack bracket structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to fix at least one electronic device onto a rack housing. The rack bracket structure includes a first bracket member, a second bracket member, a limiting member, a plurality of first locking members and a plurality of second locking members. The first bracket member has at least one first hole and a plurality of second holes. The second bracket member has at least one third hole. The first and the second bracket members are pivoted on the limiting member respectively. The first locking members pass through the second holes respectively and fix the first bracket member on the electronic device. The second locking members pass through the first and the third holes respectively and fix the first and the second bracket members on the rack housing.

To achieve the above, a rack bracket structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied to fix at least one electronic device onto a rack housing. The rack bracket structure includes a first bracket member, a second bracket member, a third bracket member, a first limiting member, a second limiting member, a plurality of first locking members and a plurality of second locking members. The first bracket member has at least one first hole and a plurality of second holes. The third bracket member has at least one third hole. The first and the second bracket members are pivoted on the first limiting member respectively. The second and the third bracket members are pivoted on the second limiting member respectively. The first locking members pass through the second holes respectively and fix the first bracket member on the electronic device. The second locking members pass through the first and the third holes respectively and fix the first and the third bracket members on the rack housing.

As mentioned above, due to a plurality of bracket members of a rack bracket structure according to the present invention are integrally assembled, the bracket members are pivoted on the limiting member as a whole. A rack bracket structure according to the present invention could fix at least one electronic device, and when the rack bracket structure is not used, the bracket members could be rotated to be located side by side for saving space. That is, the integrally assembled bracket members avoid loss issue and meet extension requirement in the future. Furthermore, the shape of individual bracket members could be the same to save molding fee and reduce production cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below illustration only, and thus is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the electronic devices are fixed on a conventional rack bracket structure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the first embodiment of a rack bracket structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another schematic view showing the first embodiment of a rack bracket structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is the other schematic view showing the first embodiment of a rack bracket structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the second embodiment of a rack bracket structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the third embodiment of a rack bracket structure according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is another schematic view showing the third embodiment of a rack bracket structure according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same references relate to the same elements.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first embodiment of a rack bracket structure 20 according to the present invention includes a first bracket member 21, a second bracket member 22, a limiting member 23, a plurality of first locking members 24 and a plurality of second locking members 25.

The first bracket member 21 has at least one first hole 211 and a plurality of second holes 212. In this embodiment, the first bracket member 21 has two first holes 211 and four second holes 212. The amount and location of holes should be fitted for the electronic device.

The second bracket member 22 has at least one third hole 221. In this embodiment, the second bracket member 22 has two third holes 221. The first bracket member 21 and the second bracket member 22 may be made of metal or plastic. For example, the first bracket member 21 and the second bracket member 22 are made of metal. Besides, the shape of the first bracket member 21 and the second bracket member 22 may be the same and they are manufactured by only one mold to achieve cost-down.

The first bracket member 21 and the second bracket member 22 are pivoted on the limiting member 23 respectively. The first bracket member 21 and the second bracket member 22 are assembled as a whole.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rack bracket structure 20 according to the present invention is applied to fix at least one electronic device E onto a rack housing R. The electronic device E may be a switcher, a router or a server. In this embodiment, the first bracket member 21 and the second bracket member 22 may have an opening 214 and 224 respectively for monitoring the status of the electronic device E.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the first locking members 24 pass through the second holes 212 respectively and fix the first bracket member 21 on the electronic device E. The second locking members 25 pass through the first hole 211 and the third hole 221 respectively and fix the first bracket member 21 and the second bracket member 22 on the rack housing R In this embodiment, the rack bracket structure 20 according to the present invention further comprises a plurality of third locking members 26, which passing through a plurality of fourth holes 222 of the second bracket member 22 respectively and fixing the second bracket member 22 on another electronic device E. The rack bracket structure 20 fixes two electronic devices E to the rack housing R at the same time.

In this embodiment, the rack bracket structure 20 further comprises a plurality of pivoting members 27, which passing through the first bracket member 21 and the second bracket member 22 respectively and the first bracket member 21 and the second bracket member 22 are pivoted on the limiting member 23. The first bracket member 21 has a first pivoting portion 213 and the second bracket member 22 has a second pivoting portion 223. The pivoting members 27 have a screw set 271 and an elastic washer 272 respectively. The screw set 271 may comprise a screw and a nut. The screw set 271 passes through the first pivoting portion 213 and the second pivoting portion 223 respectively and acts as a shaft, the first bracket member 21 and the second bracket member 22 may be rotated along the screw set 271. The pivoting members 27 are perpendicular to the first bracket member 21 and the second bracket member 22 respectively, the rotating directions of the first bracket member 21 and the second bracket member 22 are perpendicular to the pivoting members 27.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the rack bracket structure 20 is not used, the first bracket member 21 and the second bracket member 22 may be rotated along the pivoting members 27 to be located side by side for saving space. It may avoid loss issue of the first bracket member 21 and the second bracket member 22 under such an arrangement.

As shown in FIG. 5, the second embodiment of a rack bracket structure 20 according to the present invention may further include at least one third bracket member 28. One end of the third bracket member 28 is connected to the limiting member 23 and the other end of the third bracket member 28 is connected to the rack housing R. In this embodiment, the rack bracket structure 20 has two third bracket members 28 pivoted on the limiting member 23 and are fixed on the rack housing R by a plurality of fourth locking members 29. Besides, the shape of the third bracket member 28 may be the same as the first bracket member 21 and the second bracket member 22, and they are manufactured by only one mold to achieve cost-down.

In this embodiment, the electronic devices E may be fixed on the first bracket member 21 and the second bracket member 22 respectively according to actual arrangement. Two electronic devices E are positioned on one side of the rack housing R for facilitating configuration. Two more electronic devices E (as shown in dashed line) may be fixed on the third bracket members 28 respectively by a fifth locking member. The rack bracket structure 20 may fix four electronic devices E at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 6, the third embodiment of a rack bracket structure 30 according to the present invention includes a first bracket member 31, a second bracket member 32, a third bracket member 33, a first limiting member 34, a second limiting member 35, a plurality of first locking members 361 and a plurality of second locking members 362. The rack bracket structure 30 is applied to fix at least one electronic device E onto a rack housing R. In this embodiment, the electronic device E and the rack housing R have the same functions and characteristics as those in the first embodiment, and the corresponding descriptions are omitted for concise purpose.

As shown in FIG. 7, the first bracket member 31 has at least one first hole 311 and a plurality of second holes 312. In this embodiment, the first bracket member 31 has two first holes 311 and four second holes 312. The amount and location of holes should be fitted for the electronic device.

The third bracket member 33 has at least one third hole 331. In this embodiment, the third bracket member 33 has two third holes 331. The first bracket member 31, the second bracket member 32 and the third bracket member 33 may be made of metal or plastic. For example, the first bracket member 31, the second bracket member 32 and the third bracket member 33 are made of metal.

Referring to FIG. 6 again, the first bracket member 31 and the second bracket member 32 are pivoted on the first limiting member 34 respectively. The second bracket member 32 and the third bracket member 33 are pivoted on the second limiting member 35 respectively. Besides, the shape of the first bracket member 31, the second bracket member 32 and the third bracket member 33 may be the same and they are manufactured by only one mold to achieve cost-down.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first bracket member 31 has a first pivoting portion 313, the second bracket member 32 has a second pivoting portion 321 and a third pivoting portion 322 and the third bracket member 33 has a fourth pivoting portion 332. The rack bracket structure 30 further comprises a plurality of pivoting members 37, which passing through the first pivoting portion 313 of the first bracket member 31, the second pivoting portion 321 of the second bracket member 32 and the fourth pivoting portion 332 of the third bracket member 33 respectively. The first bracket member 31 and the second bracket member 32 are pivoted on the first limiting member 34. The second bracket member 32 and the third bracket member 33 are pivoted on the second limiting member 35. The pivoting members 37 act as a shaft, the first bracket member 31, the second bracket member 32 and the third bracket member 33 may be rotated along the pivoting members 37.

The pivoting members 37 are perpendicular to the first bracket member 31, the second bracket member 32 and the third bracket member 33 respectively, the rotating directions of the first bracket member 31, the second bracket member 32 and the third bracket member 33 are perpendicular to the pivoting members 37. In this embodiment, the pivoting members 37 have a screw set 371 and an elastic washer 372 respectively. The screw set 371 may comprise a screw and a nut. The first bracket member 31, the second bracket member 32 and the third bracket member 33 are assembled as a whole by the pivoting members 37, the first limiting member 34 and the second limiting member 35.

The first locking members 361 pass through the second holes 312 respectively and fix the first bracket member 31 on the electronic device E. The second locking members 362 pass through the first hole 311 and the third hole 331 respectively and fix the first bracket member 31 and the third bracket member 33 on the rack housing R

In this embodiment, the rack bracket structure 30 according to the present invention further comprises a plurality of third locking members 363 and a plurality of fourth locking members 364. The second bracket member 32 further has a plurality of fourth holes 323. The third bracket member 33 further has a plurality of fifth holes 333. The third locking members 363 pass through fourth holes 323 respectively and fix the second bracket member 32 on another electronic device E. The fourth locking members 364 pass through fifth holes 333 respectively and fix the third bracket member 33 on the other electronic device E. The rack bracket structure 30 fixes three electronic devices E to the rack housing R at the same time.

Referring to FIG. 7 again, the first bracket member 31, the second bracket member 32 and the third bracket member 33 may have an opening 314, 324 and 334 respectively for monitoring the status of the electronic devices E.

When the rack bracket structure 30 is not used, the first bracket member 31, the second bracket member 32 and the third bracket member 33 may be rotated along the pivoting members 37 and be located side by side for saving space. It may avoid loss issue of the first bracket member 31, the second bracket member 32 and the third bracket member 33 under such an arrangement.

In summary, due to a plurality of bracket members of a rack bracket structure according to the present invention is integrally assembled, the bracket members are pivoted on the limiting member as a whole. A rack bracket structure according to the present invention could fix at least one electronic device, and when the rack bracket structure is not used, the bracket members could be rotated to be located side by side for saving space. That is, the integrally assembled bracket members avoid loss issue and meet extension requirement in the future. Furthermore, the shape of individual bracket members could be the same to save molding fee and reduce production cost.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternative embodiments, will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claims will cover all modifications that fall within the true scope of the present invention. 

1. A rack bracket structure applied to fix at least one electronic device onto a rack housing, comprising: a first bracket member, having at least one first hole and a plurality of second holes; a second bracket member, having at least one third hole; a limiting member, wherein the first and the second bracket members are pivoted on the limiting member; a plurality of first locking members, passing through the second holes respectively and fixing the first bracket member on the electronic device; and a plurality of second locking members, passing through the first and the third holes respectively and fixing the first and the second bracket members on the rack housing.
 2. The rack bracket structure according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a switcher, a router or a server.
 3. The rack bracket structure according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second bracket members are made of metal or plastic.
 4. The rack bracket structure according to claim 1, wherein the second bracket member further comprises a plurality of fourth holes.
 5. The rack bracket structure according to claim 4, further comprising a plurality of third locking members, passing through the fourth holes respectively and fixing the second bracket member on another electronic device.
 6. The rack bracket structure according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second bracket members have an opening respectively.
 7. The rack bracket structure according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pivoting members, passing through the first and the second bracket members respectively and the first and the second bracket members are pivoted on the limiting member, and the pivoting members act as a shaft.
 8. The rack bracket structure according to claim 7, wherein the pivoting members are perpendicular to the first and the second bracket members respectively, the rotating directions of the first and the second bracket members are perpendicular to the pivoting members.
 9. The rack bracket structure according to claim 7, wherein the pivoting members have a screw set respectively.
 10. The rack bracket structure according to claim 7, wherein the pivoting members have a screw set and an elastic washer respectively.
 11. The rack bracket structure according to claim 1, further comprising at least one third bracket member, wherein one end of the third bracket member is connected to the limiting member and the other end of the third bracket member is connected to the rack housing.
 12. The rack bracket structure according to claim 11, wherein the third bracket member is fixed on rack housing by at least one fourth locking member.
 13. The rack bracket structure according to claim 11, wherein the third bracket member is fixed on the other electronic device by a fifth locking member.
 14. A rack bracket structure applied to fix at least one electronic device onto a rack housing, comprising: a first bracket member, having at least one first hole and a plurality of second holes; a second bracket member; a third bracket member, having at least one third hole; a first limiting member, wherein the first and the second bracket members are pivoted on the first limiting member respectively; a second limiting member, wherein the second and the third bracket members are pivoted on the second limiting member respectively; a plurality of first locking members, passing through the second holes respectively and fixing the first bracket member on the electronic device; and a plurality of second locking members, passing through the first and the third holes respectively and fixing the first and the third bracket members on the rack housing.
 15. The rack bracket structure according to claim 14, wherein the electronic device is a switcher, a router or a server.
 16. The rack bracket structure according to claim 14, wherein the first, the second and the third bracket members are made of metal or plastic.
 17. The rack bracket structure according to claim 14, wherein the second bracket member further comprises a plurality of fourth holes.
 18. The rack bracket structure according to claim 17, further comprising a plurality of third locking members, passing through the fourth holes respectively and fixing the second bracket member on another electronic device.
 19. The rack bracket structure according to claim 14, wherein the third bracket member further comprises a plurality of fifth holes.
 20. The rack bracket structure according to claim 19, further comprising a plurality of fourth locking members, passing through the fifth holes respectively and fixing the third bracket member on the other electronic device.
 21. The rack bracket structure according to claim 14, wherein the first, the second and the third bracket members have an opening respectively.
 22. The rack bracket structure according to claim 14, further comprising a plurality of pivoting members which pass through the first, the second and the third bracket members respectively, so as to make the first and the second bracket members are pivoted on the first limiting member, the second and the third bracket members are pivoted on the second limiting member, and the pivoting members act as a shaft.
 23. The rack bracket structure according to claim 22, wherein the pivoting members are perpendicular to the first, the second and the third bracket members respectively, the rotating directions of the first, the second and the third bracket members are perpendicular to the pivoting members.
 24. The rack bracket structure according to claim 22, wherein the pivoting members have a screw set respectively.
 25. The rack bracket structure according to claim 22, wherein the pivoting members have a screw set and an elastic washer respectively. 